Tin-top-basket fruit protector



May 15, 1928. 1,669,669

R. P. MILLER TIN TOP BASKET FRUIT PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 14, 1927 2:71

iiv VEN TOR. R0 50:! PM 27 [e71 latented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oi-"Fles ROBERT PQIILLEB, OI SLGBAIENTO, ASSIGNOBTO SCHMIDT LITHO- GRAPE COMPANY, O! SAN FBANGISGO,.CALIFOBNIA, ACORPORATION 01' CALI- TIN-TOP-BASKET FRUIT PROTECTOR.

Application filed September 14, 1927. Serial No. 219,482.

7 This invention relates to a protecting device to be applied to tin topbaskets to prevent the injury that ordinarily occurs to baskets with atin top which is placed on 10 the upper edges of the basket and holdsthe Four of these baskets are usually placed in a crate, and when thebaskets are filled with fruit the fruit is higher than the top of thecrate, (the object being to have the top when crate squeeze the fruittightly enough to prevent it from loosening up when shipped for a numberof days, the shrinkage of the fruit and continual jarring causing thepackage to become fault unless the fruit is packed tightly therein whenthe crate is closed. The result of squeezing the fruit tightly in thecrate is to. cause more or less bruisin of the fruit by the rigid edgesof the has et which extend to the center of the Grate, ment of thecrates require a number of days, as in shipping fruit from the Pacificcoast to eastern markets that practically all of the fruit in contactwith the upper edges of the basket becomes rusted from the metal on thetop of the four baskets extending to the 'gcenter of the crate therebyresulting'in a considerable loss.

With the present invention corrugated are capable of holding two partstogether.

strips are'cut which themselves in place on baskets and-as the materialis quite springy these strips afiordsuflicient cushion to pre- 40 ventserious injuryjo the fruit and also prevent it from getting rusted fromcontact with the tin tops of the baskets.

Other objects of the invention w1ll be ap parent as the description Anembodiment of the 1n vention in the accompanying drawmgin whichthe samereference numeral same portion throughout the several figures of thedrawings an of which there may be modifications.

Figurelisape tin top baskets andplaced onthe pressed therein when the towith the result that where the ship-- the tops of the four- -en of eachstrip extending -slotat the corner of each basket is shown strip isapplied to the sp we view of a crate with one end removed showing thefour baskets in position therein,

Figure 2 isa plan view of one of the stri s used for covering the baskettops,

digure'3 is an end View of the same strip. an 7 4 Figure 4-a perspectiveview of the same .strip as it appears ready to be placed upon thebasket. .7 v

The numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 re resent the sidesand bottom of a crate, saisides, and

- bottom being secured ordinarily at both ends to a heavier crate end asindicated at 5.

Both crate ends are slightly hi her than the baskets in order that thehas ets may be packed full and the fruit tightly comis placed inposition. The baskets are in 8 and 9. and each basket is provided with a'cated at 6, 7, r

tin top extending entirely around the same as indicated at 10, 11, 12and 13. The protecting strips consist of a flat sheet ofcorrugated-paper or fiber board 14. ThlS corru ated strip is twice aslong as one of the si es of the basket, and it shaped cut 15 and 16 ateach end, while there is a narrow cut 17 at its center which extendsone-half the distance across the strip.

Before the fruit is packed and after the baskets have been put in thecrate the packerv picks up two of the strips 14 and bends them to theshape shown in Figure 4 whereupon they are pushed into position on thetop of three baskets'as indicated in Figure 1. That 'is one of themcovers two sides of the top edges of one basket, and one side of the toped of the, two adjacent baskets with the through the to prevent it frombeing-lifted out of position until the baskets are removed bodily and asthe ends of the cuts 17 bear-upon the ad acent strips when in positionthey too ald in preventing the accidental displacement of the protectlngIn practice the st slightly when the pressure of closing the crate andnailing the top in place occurs so that the injury to the fruit issmaller than it would be otherwise while they at the same hasa broad V-rips have considerable 4 ring and when plac in position they give timeprevent the fruit from coming in con-- tact with the tin strip extendinginto the center of the crate on each of the boxes and thereby preventrusting all the fruit that ordinarily is in contact with said tin tops.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is as'follows but modifications may be madein carrying out the invention as shown in the drawing and in the aninverted U-shape to cover the two adja cent edges of three baskets theends inter- I locking with the baskets to hold the strips in place.

2. In a fruit basket protector for crated fruit baskets comprising astrip of corru-' gated-fiber board having its ends cut with a broad Vand with a center out extending approximately one-half the width of thestrip whereby the strip may be folded to an inverted U-shape and bent atits center to cover the adjacent edges of three baskets in a. crate, theends interlocking with said baskets.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day ofAugust, A. D.

' ROBT. P; MILLER.

